Simulated tie knot and locking means therefor



Aug. 11, 1959 A. w. LIPES ET AL 2,898,600

SIMULATED TIE KNOT AND LOCKING MEANS THEREFOR Filed Jan. 22, 1958 has. a 5 14 ATTORNEYS United States Patent O SIMULATED TIE KNOT AND LOCKING MEANS THEREFOR Alvin Walter Lipes and Herbert H. Williams, Jr., Roanoke, Va.

' The main purpose of this invention is to provide a simulated knot for four-in-hand neckties in which the simulator will have a conventional but more perfect appearance and shape than ordinarily obtained by hand tying the usual necktie.

A further purpose is to enable quick tying of the tie with easily obtained even ends, as contrasted with the usual tie wherein considerable time is required for forming a good knot, and wherein the ends usually become uneven and more or less unsightly. This invention further prolongs the life of a tie, since the usual tie with the tight knot that is formed, quickly becomes badly ice of the covering fabric 12; and said edges are shown as slightly spaced apart.

The upper edge 18 of the sleeve 11 is preferably arcuate and may vary in length from, say, 45 to 90'. When of a length from 45 to 60, the knot holding member 19 of Figs. 3 to 5 is employed. When of a length from 60 to 90, the wider knot holding member 19 of Fig. 4 may be used. Both of the members 19' and 19? are preferably formed from resilient wire but could well be formed from plastic or sheet metal.

The member 19 comprises two slightly spaced side arms connected at one end by .a looped finger piece 21 and having their other ends disposed in diverging relation at 22 and provided withtrunnions 23. These trunnions 23 are pivotally received in, a bearing '24 suitably secured to the upper end portion of the sleeve front wrinkled and creased. Further, less handling is required which lessens the soiling ordinarily acquired from the fingers. It is possible to provide two or more knot simulators for one tie so that when one becomes soiled, another may be used, without having to throw away the expensive bulk of the tie, which is still in good condition.

A more specific purpose of the invention is to provide knot holding means for holding the simulated knot in place when it is applied, so that the knot simulation cannot accidentally slip downwardly during the wearing of the tie, said locking means being simple and inexpensive, being of such form that it does not get in the way when the knot simulation is being applied, and being held in operative position by taking advantage of yieldable engagement with two wings which form the back of the knot simulation.

With the above and other objects in view that will become apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawing, and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective showing the manner of simply tying the necktie before applying the knot simulation;

Fig. 2 is a perspective showing the tie and knot simulation in use;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged rear view of the simulationwith the knot holding member in operative position;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view on line 5--5 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 6 is a rear view, partly broken away, showing a modified form of the knot holding member.

The knot simulation 10 includes a downwardly tapered sleeve 11 formed from resilient sheet metal or plastic and adequately covered with fabric 12 either matching or contrasting with that of the tie 13.

The sleeve 11 comprises a front wall 14, edge walls 15 which curve inwardly from said front wall 14, and back wings 16 which extend inwardly toward each other from said edge walls 15. The edges 17 of the wings ,16 are preferably convexedly curved and are free of any wall 14. The lower ends of the diverging portions 22 are preferably connected by a suitable tie 25.

The member 19 (Fig. 4) comprises two widely and curvedly diverging side arms 26 connected at their lower closely spaced ends by a looped finger piece 27 and having trunnions 28 at their upper ends, said trunnions being pivotally received in suitable bearings 29 secured to the sleeve front wall 14.

Either knot holding member 19 or 19 due to its pivotal mounting, is manually swingable to and from an operative position within the sleeve 11 (Figs. 3 and 4) and to and from a released position in which it extends beyond the sleeve. An illustrative released position is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4. In so swinging, the member 19 or 19 must pass between the edges 17 of the back wings 16. These edges 17, however, are spaced apart a distance less than the width of the portion of the member 19 or 19 which contacts with said edges during inward or outward swinging of said member 19 or 19 as seen in Figs. 3, 5 and 6. Consequently, the wings 16 will yieldably hold the member 19 or 19 in operative position but will spring apart whenever said member must be forced between said wings as it is swung to released position or returned to operative position. During such swinging of the member 19 or 19, its side arms 20 or 26 will also yield toward each other and therefore the wings 16 need not be sprung apart so far. Ease of operation is thus assured, even if the sleeve 11 be rather stiff.

In using the knot simulation 10, the necktie 13 is passed around the wearers neck in engagement with his collar and the front end portion 30 is looped at 31 around the back end portion 32 as shown in Fig. 1, without actually tying a knot in the tie. The two end portions are then orderly arranged and the loop 31 is contracted. Then, the simulation 10 is applied and accurately positioned. During such application, the knot holding member 19 or 19 is passed rearwardly and downwardly through the front portion of the neck loop of the tie directly over the loop 31, and is then swung downwardly until it snaps between the'back wings 16. In this position, the member 19 or 19 hooks over the looped portion 31 of the tie and thus not only holds the tie ends against relative sliding, but also holds the knot simulation 10 against downward slipping or creeping along the body of the tie. Also the looped finger piece 21 or 27, which is wider than the contiguous portion of the member 19 or 19, holds the back end 32 of the tie smoothly against the front end 30. The result is the appearance of an unusually neatly tied necktie, without the ditficulty of tying the same. Moreover, less handling of the necktie is required and soiling is thus minimized. Also, tie

wrinkling due to ordinary tight tying is prevented and to 'be'understood that minor changes may be made therein without departing "from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

We claim: l p t V 1; Ida knot "simulation for a necktie, a downwardly tapered sleeve of resilient material presenting an exposed finished surface on its outer :fa'ce, said sleeve comprising a front wall, edge-wallscurved rearwardly from said front Wall, "and back wings extending toward each other from said edge walls "to define a relatively narrow throat, a vertically elongated "knot holding member having an npper'and'lower end which occupy an operative position within said sleeve when the simulation is in use, said knot holding member being pivotally attached at itsupper end to the upper end of the inner face of said front wall to permit rearward swinging of said knot holding member through the throat defined by said back wings, said knot holding .member being wider than said throat, whereby when said knot holding 1 member is moved from released position to said operative position said resilient wings will move outwardly to pass said knot holding "member and then spring back to hold said knot holding member in operative position.

2. A structure as specified in claim 1, in which said knot holding'm'ember has resilient side arms which yield toward each other as said knot holding member is moved through said throat.

3. A structure as set forth in claim 1, in which the lower end of said knot holding member is widened to form a finger-piece and ate smoothly hold the back panel of the necktie against the vfront panel thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,109,748 Goodle Sept. 8, 1914 1,164,590 Fearnaug ht Dec. 14, 1915 1,450,152 Frederick Mar. 27, 1923 1,968,401 Kapfer July 31, 1934 2,269,017 Gladstone Jan. 6, 1942 2,646,668 Rinehart July 28,4953

FOREIGN PATENTS 7 408,132 France Jan. 1.7, 1.91 0 

